When speaking with Marc Whitten, corporate VP at Microsoft, IGN discussed the Xbox One messaging.
Due to Microsoft eliminating their initial plans for the Xbox One DRM, it allowed some features to return but also removed others. Microsoft planned to allow Family Sharing with multiple "family" members which enabled Xbox One users to download games from their Family Sharing library to their own console. The sharing would act exactly like borrowing a game from a friend, except in digital form.
Arriving at the topic of family sharing, Marc Whitten explained that if Xbox One owners desire family sharing, it could make a return. “If it’s something that people are really excited about and want, we’re going to make sure that we find the right way to bring it back."
Whitten first explained that the removal came from an "engineering perspective" and it didn't mean they wanted to remove Family Sharing in the first place. "So taking Family Sharing out of the launch window was not about ‘we’re going to take our toys and go home’ or something like that," Whitten then added, "It was just sort of the logistics of ‘how do we get this very, very clear request that people really want, that choice, and how do we make sure we can do an excellent job of that, get to launch, and then be able to build a bunch of great features?’
If family sharing does return, it may only apply to titles purchased digitally rather than disc based games. Without the 24-hour check, it could be impossible to determine who currently owns the title.
The Xbox One will launch this fall for $499.
